Variety of Begonia plant named ‘Solenia Super Red Orange’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Begonia  plant having dark red flowers with orange undertones that exhibits good outdoor and garden performance.

Botanical classification: Begonia elatior hybrid [Begonia×hiemalis].

Varietal denomination: ‘Solenia Super Red Orange’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant known by the varietal name ‘Solenia Super Red Orange’. The newvariety was discovered in 1998 in a selected breeding program in Gimte,Germany. The purpose of the breeding program was to develop a newvariety with high sun and rain resistance, as well as good garden andoutdoor performance. The new variety is the result of a cross betweenSTS 97/R005 (female parent, unpatented) and TS 812 (male parent,unpatented). The new variety differs in flower color, form, habit andfoliage characteristics from both parents. Specifically, the new varietyis red-orange in color and its female parent is scarlet in color and itsmale parent is pink in color. The new variety has smooth foliage likeits male parent, but the foliage of the new variety is darker green thanboth parents. Further, the foliage of its female parent is pubescent.The new variety also exhibits a compact, rounded growth habit, while itsfemale parent has a strong growth habit. The new variety was firstasexually reproduced in the winter 1998/1999 season by cuttings inGermany. The new variety has been trial and field tested in Germany andhas been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain trueto type through successive propagations.

The following traits distinguish ‘Solenia Super Red Orange’ as a new anddistinct cultivar from other begonia varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   1. The flower color is dark red with orange undertones.    -   2. The new variety exhibits good outdoor and garden performance.

Further, the foliage of the new variety is Green Group 139A and has ashiny appearance, while the silky foliage of ‘Solenia Red Improved’(unpatented) is green and brown on the upperside and reddish in color onthe underside. Also, the flower color of the new variety is Red Group44A, while the flower color of ‘Solenia Red Improved’ is Red Group 43B.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, withthe color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type:

FIG. 1 is photograph of an entire plant of the new variety; and

FIG. 2 is a close-up photograph of the flowers of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the newcultivar. The data which defines these characteristics were collected byasexual reproductions by cuttings carried out in Germany. The plantswere exposed to an average temperature of 18° C. and 14 hours of longday light. Plants for the description were 6 months old and in 13 cmcontainers. The color readings were taken indoors under natural light.Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London.

PLANT

-   Form: Upright.-   Time to initiate root development: Approximately three weeks.-   Height (from soil to top of flowers): 9.45″ (26 cm).-   Plant diameter: 10.6″ (27 cm).-   Vigor: Good.-   Branching habit: Medium.-   Tubers: None present.-   Lateral branches:    -   -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 146D with some brownish-red color            present.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Length.—5.9″ (15 cm).        -   Diameter.—5.5″ (14 cm).        -   Internode length.—0.8″ (2 cm).        -   Quantity.—4.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Number of leaves per stem.—6.        -   Size of leaf.—Length: 4.7″-5.5″ (12-14 cm). Width: 3.5″-3.9″            (9-10 cm). Shape of leaf: Typical Begonia leaf-shape;            kidney-shaped with an acute tip. Shape of apex: Acute.        -   Shape of base.—Oblique.        -   Texture.—Smooth, with venation present.        -   Margin type.—Bicrenate.        -   Fragrance.—None present.        -   Color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: Green Group 139A. Lower            surface: Green Group 137A. Mature leaves: Upper surface:            Green Group 139A. Lower surface: Green Group 137B.        -   Petiole.—Length: 1.57″ (4 cm). Diameter: 0.12″ (0.3 cm).            Color: Yellow-Green Group 146D with a reddish gleam.            Texture: Smooth.        -   Veins.—Venation pattern: Star-shaped. Color: Upper surface:            Green Group 137C. Lower surface: Green Group 137D.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: May/June in Germany.-   Flower habit: Double flowering.-   Number of flowers per plant: 70-90.-   Time of day of flower opening: Flowers are always open.-   Longevity: 2 to 3 weeks on the plant.-   Flower height: 0.6″ (1.5 cm).-   Flower diameter: 1.38″ (3.5 cm).-   Bud:    -   -   Stage of development when described.—At the beginning of            opening.        -   Shape.—Semi-circle.        -   Diameter.—0.6″ (1.5 cm).        -   Length.—0.8″ (2 cm).        -   Color.—Red Group 44A.-   Petals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Double.        -   Quantity.—20-25 per flower.        -   Length.—0.98″ (2.5 cm).        -   Width.—0.8″ (2 cm).        -   Shape.—Semi-circle.        -   Apex.—Round.        -   Base.—Straight.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—When opening: Red Group 44A. Fully opened: Red Group            44A.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—2.76″-3.15″ (7-8 cm).        -   Diameter.—0.16″ (0.4 cm).        -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group 152B with a reddish tinge.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Orientation.—Upright.        -   Strength.—Strong.-   Pedicels:    -   -   Length.—0.39″ (1 cm).        -   Width.—0.04″ (0.1 cm).        -   Color.—Greyed-Orange Group 172C with a reddish tinge.        -   Strength.—Medium.        -   Orientation.—Angled.-   Reproductive organs: None present.-   Seed production: None.-   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility noticed to date.-   Weather tolerance: Good; from 12-35° C. (54° F.-95° F.).-   Female/male flowers: Only 2-3 female (single flowers) are present    per plant. All other flowers are male (fully filled flowers).

1. A new and distinct variety of Begonia plant substantially as shownand described.